AN: Hey guys! I know that it's been a really LONG time since I updated this and I regret not having to update this in a while and I had a bunch of ideas for this. So without further delays, I would like to present the latest chapter of Code Eternal! Now Showtime!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything regarding Kamen Rider or Code Geass.
Stage 12: Subsiding Violence
Lelouch and CC were sharing a booth on the tram while Kallen and Rai were sharing another farther down their aisle. Rai was trying to calm Kallen down and cheer her up after nearly being tricked by Mao to kill Lelouch. Lelouch stared at CC, suspicious of her motives due to her talking to herself and now having a connection the Violence Memory holder, Mao.
"I just want to confirm something; are you my ally or my enemy?" Lelouch asked as CC looked out the window.
"And where's this coming from?" CC countered, familiar with Lelouch doing things behind her back.
Lelouch actually did have a right to be worried because if Mao has the Violence Memory then that tells that Mao is a violent psychopath who is aiming for CC, one of Lelouch's closest ally. He'll do anything to get her back, even killing Lelouch himself to do so or using his Geass, which makes him more deadly than already, to turn his allies against him like what he nearly did with Kallen.
"Mao's Geass lets him get into someone's head and what they're thinking and planning. I got that right, don't I?" Lelouch asked, remembering his encounter with Mao over the chess game.
"Yes, the way Geass manifests is different for each person, like your mind control and Orpheus's shapeshifting." CC referenced, without taking her eyes off the window. She soon focused on the main subject, Mao. "If Mao concentrates, he can hear thoughts up to 500 meters away and he can read clear down to your subconscious if he wants to. For someone like you, who fights with his head, he's the worst possible enemy."
"My Eternal armor seems to be a good counter agent for that but he already has the Violence Memory to compete with that. Still, 500 meters…well, it doesn't really come as a surprise to me. I already know that there are other Geass Users like Orpheus. So did you make a contract with Mao?" Lelouch asked, wondering why Mao is so affectionate for CC.
"Eleven years ago." CC answered, revealing him to be Lelouch's predecessor.
"So he's my predecessor. Is there some reason that this forerunner is also my enemy?"
"Mao's after me. He may be your enemy, but he's not targeting you." CC said, confirming herself to be the real target.
"Yeah, well, I can see that." Lelouch said, remembering how Mao acted when saw CC. Lelouch soon started thinking on Mao's action as long with filling doubts in Kallen's head. "He could've revealed my true identity and told the police or the military who I am, but he didn't and instead only have Kallen doubt me. Are there limits to his powers?" Lelouch asked, needing an edge against Mao in terms of Geass.
"Mao's Geass is very potent. He can use it as many times as he wants and he doesn't need direct eye contact like you do." CC explained, revealing the nature of how Mao's Geass operates.
"Does he have any weaknesses?"
CC started thinking about it.
"If you press me, I guess it's that he can't turn his power off. In a crowd, he hears all the minds roiling and writhing around him, whether he wants to or not." CC explained.
Lelouch nodded. This explained Mao's violent and psychotic behavior. For eleven years, Mao kept hearing everyone's thoughts, not giving him a clear and relaxed mind but a strained and unstable one instead. Lelouch couldn't blame him for going crazy like that but he can't let him have CC nor the Violence Memory. In Lelouch's mind, Mao's defeat calls for priority.
(At a library)
Mao was sweating and banging his head against the wall as he kept hearing everyone. Despite, people in the library being physically silent, they were all chatting a storm in mind. Mao desperately wanted them to shut up but there was nothing he could do but go through it every day for the past eleven years.
Mao turned his gaze onto the audio player and raised the volume to hear CC's voice through his headset.
"Don't worry Mao, I'm not going to die."
"Mao! Mao! Are you awake, Mao?"
"Oh Mao, how silly…."
Mao smiled since CC was the only one he couldn't read; the only one that he could connect to even without thoughts, his family whom he also considers as his one true love.
"CC, I can't live without you. Wait for me, I'm coming to get you." Mao said, determined to get CC back from Lelouch. And he won't let him or anyone else get in the way. Mao took out the Violence Memory and smiled as he clenched. It was his second trump card.
(In Ashford Academy)
Lelouch was having some team with Nunnally as he was watching the surveillance with his laptop. He decided the best course of action when dealing with Mao is to do this himself. He didn't want anyone caught in the crosshairs.
'If Mao read my mind, then he already knows my weak points. That's where he'll strike.' Lelouch thought, looking at Nunnally. Mao should know that Nunnally was his whole purpose of forming the Riders, the Black Knights, and his will to fight.
Nunnally soon finished her tea and looked at Lelouch with a smile.
"It's been a long time since we spent time by ourselves, huh?" Nunnally remarked. She missed having private moments with her big brother but she doesn't know the real reason as to why he's with her now, to protect her from Mao.
Lelouch looked at his little sister and smiled back.
"You know, even Sayoko needs a little time off now and again. Starting today, I'll be staying home for a while." Lelouch said as he looked at his laptop and so far, no signs of Mao on the surveillance cameras or from the Memory Gadgets that were discreetly patrolling around campus.
"Lately, you've been out of the house so much, I was curious." Nunnally remarked. "Have you found some really fun game to play or something?"
"Sort of, my current opponent is really hard to beat." Lelouch said. Not the full truth but not a full lie as well. Nunnally giggled at the comment.
"That's funny. Only our big brother Schneizel,, would ever make you say something like that." Nunnally remarked as Lelouch caught CC looking at the surveillance camera in his room while holding the Frog Pod. Lelouch sighed. "Damn witch…"
He left to enter the room.
(At an empty warehouse)
The Violence Dopant was practicing his skills since CC is Cyclone and could be very…teasing. The Violence Dopant soon transformed itself into a giant boulder and rolled over the dummies that were set up at a good speed. He needs practice like this because, regardless of who it is, he'll be facing a Rider.
The Violence Dopant soon transformed back into its humanoid form and charged at the dummies before crushing the head of one with its fist and extending his arm before twirling it around.
"Batter up!"
The Violence Dopant swung and smashed the head of the dummy so hard that it exploded. The Violence Dopant started laughing at the amount of power that he had.
"With this, I can take CC back no problem!"
The Violence Dopant continued laughing manically as he kept destroying the dummies to no end He headbutted a dummy before his arm turned ten times as big as his body. He swung his arm at the last dummy before not only it exploded, but the ground shook too.
Mao's violent personality intensified, causing the Gaia Memory's power to increase as well. The Violence Dopant just laughed and laughed to his heart's content.
(Back at Ashford Academy)
"And?" Lelouch asked.
"I know that you want to protect your sister and all, but you can't just sit around here and wait for him." CC said, hugging her usual plush toy.
"I've got the Black Knights and the Riders hunting for him."
"What if he's not in the ghetto like you think? What if he's right here in the Tokyo settlement? Then you've wasted all that precious time and resources. You just use me as bait. I'm Mao's target, so I should be-." CC started, fed up with how Lelouch is handling the situation.
"Tell me, if I keep using my Geass, will I become like him?" Lelouch asked, earning some silence from CC. "Or did he end up the way he is because he didn't fulfill his contract with you?"
CC was silent for a couple of minutes but saw that Lelouch was slightly furious and demanded an answer. And it was one that she had no choice but to give.
"The more you use your Geass, the more powerful it becomes. Those who cannot control the power are ultimately ravaged and consumed by it." CC said, finally revealing the true nature of Geass. Lelouch should've known that there was a catch to this power other than the contract given to him by CC.
"And even though you know everything about that, you still offered these contracts? To me and Mao?"
"…That's right." CC said, not ashamed of hiding the truth of Geass.
Lelouch's face started to cringe, slowly but surely becoming disgusted with CC.
"You're a cruel girl. I don't know why anyone would chase after you. Mao couldn't fulfill his contract with you, so you cut him loose. What were the terms of the contract?" Lelouch asked but CC wasn't answering.
Lelouch's soon expressed full disgust. This woman was a witch by every definition of the term. She can grant great power to others through contracts yet trick them in the end, making them go mad and abandoning them for her own ends. Lelouch wondered if the same was going to happen with him.
"You're a monster. Why didn't you finish him when you cut him off? You should've taken his power back, or his life. Because you left things half-finished, Kallen was-." Lelouch smacked his chessboard nearby, scrambling the pieces onto the floor.
CC got up and was a little frustrated but kept a calm demeanor since she too wanted to deal with Mao.
"We should split up while we're dealing with Mao. Starting today, I'll stay in the next hall." CC said, wanting to keep an eye out for Mao himself despite the surveillance cameras and Memory Gadgets watching every inch of the building. She then left for the doorway.
Lelouch would have rant a little more but there were much more important things to do.
"You can't. The student council and the cultural clubs meet there."
"I don't care about that. You work it out." CC said before holding up the Frog Pod. "By the way, we'll talk about this later." CC said, but right now it was Mao's turn to move his piece on the board.
(With Rai and Orpheus)
Rai was at Orpheus's warehouse and was telling him all about the Mao situation and what Mao did to Kallen.
"So this Memory user is not only a Geass User but someone who once took CC's contract?" Orpheus asked, wondering if he got all of that right.
"Yeah." Rai answered.
Orpheus chuckled.
"Well this does make things interesting, don't you think?" Orpheus asked as he hopped off the barrel that he was sitting on. "Did Lelouch want us to do anything about this?"
"He only wants us to hunt for him but we can't stick our heads too much. Mao can read our minds so he'll try to worm his way into our heads like he did with Kallen." Rai explained, making Orpheus nod as he understood.
"I'll see what I can have Peace Mark do." Orpheus offered.
"Thanks but you need to run this by Lelouch though."
"Yeah, no problem. Also…how is Kallen doing?" Orpheus asked. If what Rai said about Mao was true then he can't imagine how Kallen was coping with this since she nearly killed Lelouch.
"Not going to sugarcoat it here but Kallen is going through some stuff. She's going to lay low from Black Knight and Rider activities to relax." Rai said.
"I wouldn't blame her. She went through a lot." Just then Orpheus got a call from Ganabati. Orpheus answered. "Hello?"
"…"
"I see."
"…"
"We'll deploy in a few minutes. You sure Lexington's intel was good?"
"…"
"Alright, we'll make a gamble with this then. Get the truck ready in a few minutes. I'll get Ze Dien." Orpheus said before hanging up.
"Something up?" Rai asked, curious what Orpheus has planned.
"Remember that info from Lexington? Regarding my 'uncle'?"
Rai nodded.
"I think we found the meeting place. I and the other guys here are going to scout the place out so we can have the home field advantage."
"When is this meeting taking place again?" Rai asked.
"Only a couple days. Why?"
"I might join in on the action. This guy knows something about me and I want to know what that is." Rai said, wanting know more of his past and so far, Oiaguro was the key in finding out more about who he is especially when it comes to family.
"Okay, the more the merrier." Orpheus said before calling Ganabati. "Hey, we're getting one more along for the ride."
(Later in the industrial area)
Ganabati was driving the truck while Ze Dien was in the cockpit of his Glasgow. They only brought the one Knightmare because they aren't expecting much trouble but it didn't hurt to have something for help. Plus they did have their Rider Gear with the Skull and Joker Memories ready to use.
Orpheus and Rai got out of the van and examined the area. The area seemed a little worn down with abandoned factories all over the place.
"If this place doesn't yell 'suspicious', I don't know what does anymore." Orpheus remarked as he looked at the truck. "Stay here, we'll let you guys know if we find something."
"Got it." Ganabati said before Rai looked at Ze Dien's Glasgow which emerged from the truck.
"I'll keep the truck safe." Ze Dien said before Orpheus and Rai went off into the first industrial facility that seemed like a good meeting ground for a secret Britannian organization would go to.
Orpheus and Rai looked around while Orpheus looked at the info on his phone that Lexington provided.
"Well, any hints?" Rai asked as Orpheus scrolled down the list for more information.
"Only that we need to look for a 'checkered sign', that's it. Other than that, your guess is as good as mine."
Orpheus and Rai spent the entire night looking around the facility but it didn't look like they were gaining much progress on the search.
"This is pointless." Orpheus said, fed up with this place. He and Rai soon met up outside and looked at each other for results. But since none have eagerly spoken a word, it didn't take a genius to tell that none of them made any progress.
Just then Orpheus's communicator started getting a call and he answered it.
"Hello?" Orpheus answered.
"We have some company, Britannian patrol going through where you are."
"Copy that." Orpheus said as he got himself and Rai hidden before a Britannian convoypassed them. They looked at the escort to see that it consists of a couple APCs, at least two squads of ground soldiers, and four Sutherland Knightmares. They seemed to be preoccupied as they didn't bother to search for anybody.
The two guys soon poked their heads out.
"What's their deal?" Rai wondered. The convoy seemed to be preoccupied with something. Orpheus watched them do before looking at Rai.
"These guys might be setting up the meeting for tomorrow."
Rai nodded and sees where Orpheus was going to say.
"You want us to follow them?" Rai guessed, making Orpheus nod.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go." Orpheus said as he snuck by. Rai nodded too as he followed Orpheus.
The two were quiet as they watched the convoy move on.
"Hey, where are we going?" A Britannian soldier asked, making his superior officer sigh.
"Idiot, weren't you paying attention to the briefing?"
"You didn't have to be mean, I'm a last minute guy. They didn't tell me anything."
The veteran soldier sighed at the recruit before deciding to explain.
"We're supposed to be setting up a meeting for tomorrow." The veteran soldier explained, making the recruit nod.
"Oh, I get you. So who's the meeting for?"
"Not your place to ask questions like that."
Orpheus smiled as he got the information that he needed. The only thing that matters is knowing the location for the meeting. It only took a small matter of time before they were around the outskirts of the industrial district before they arrived at a white building. The soldiers stopped and the commanding officer looked at them as more soldiers got out and went inside the building.
"You two, stay outside. Everyone else, you're with me." The commanding officer said before he and the majority of the troops went inside, leaving only the two troopers, four Sutherlands, and a couple empty APCs.
"This is a big party for just a meeting." Rai remarked, he never saw so many soldiers giving a damn about some building.
"Yeah, this is something." Orpheus said before getting back on his private comms. "Ze Dien, get ready to pack up. Ganabati, get the truck ready to move soon. We found our mark."
"And how is it?" Ze Dien asked.
"There are a lot of troopers making a lot of noises." Orpheus answered, thinking of what to do when the meeting takes place.
(The next day at Ashford)
Milly and Lelouch were talking privately outside about closing down the club house.
"You know, it will just be for a few days. If you can keep the club house off limits, I mean. That would really help." Lelouch requested, knowing that this is a lot to ask of the school president.
"Well, it's not like I can't do it but…Say, did someone find out you're a prince?" Milly asked. She is one of the few people that know of Lamperogue's secrets since her family was friends with the late Empress Marianne.
"Hopefully, that secret is still safe. Only the Ashford family knows that I'm still here and still alive." Lelouch mused. They and Suzaku are the only ones that know.
"The all-knowing Ashfords…" Milly mused and Lelouch noticed her sad face despite the smile that she's wearing.
"Is something wrong?"
"Oh Lelouch, they've got another blind date set up for me. I may not be able to wriggle out of this one. What do you think I should do about it?" Milly asked. Being a noble, she's expected to date and marry fellow nobles. That is why her family is setting up blind dates with other nobles, until they can find a perfect match that will supply power and suitable heirs.
Lelouch thought about her problem for a minute.
"Well, I'm not really one to talk about relationships but if you ask me-."
Suddenly, Lelouch's phone started ringing.
"Oh sorry, I need to take this." Lelouch answered and Milly kept quiet. "Hello?"
"Lelouch, I'm going to devote some of Peace Mark's resources into your search. That cool?" Orpheus asked.
"Not too much, please. It's a little risky when it comes to the subject." Lelouch said, trying to sound innocent in front of Milly.
"Okay, I'll try not to be subtle. Orpheus out."
Lelouch hung up.
"Who was that?"
"Just Sayoko trying out a new diet and she wanted my opinion of it." Lelouch lied but a little glad that he's getting some outside help. Hopefully CC will able to get some information herself.
(With CC)
It was now sunset and CC was in an alley, with a disguise, was fed up with the man that she was talking to. CC then kicked him and pushed his chest against the wall with her leg.
"I'm not looking for a Refrain dealer. I said that I'm looking for a Chinese guy named Mao. Did you hear me?" CC asked, doing things the hard way.
"Believe me, I have no idea. The only Chinese here are with gangs or labor. Go ask the cops or something." The man said, trying to reason that he doesn't know anything about Mao.
"I don't like cops." CC replied coldly.
"T-Then go ask the Black Knights about him. They're all over the underworld. They're wired into the settlement and the ghetto." The man explained. The Black Knights are not only well-organized and well hidden but they sound like the best kind of people to search for something that is the equivalent of a ghost. But the only problem is that CC's associate is already handling that bit.
"Everybody keeps telling me the same thing." CC said, a bit frustrated that this man was the same as the rest of the people that she talked to today.
CC just stared at him before letting him go. He had no real use to her. As he was breathing for air, CC kicked him in the face again, knocking him out.
"Idiot." CC said before leaving the alley.
(Later at night with Orpheus and Rai)
Rai soon arrived in his Rider uniform and noticed Orpheus and Ze Dien looking at a laptop monitor.
"What are you doing?" Rai asked as he noticed a small map of Area 11 on the monitor next to a chat window.
"We're trying to help pinpoint Mao for Eternal." Orpheus said, trying not to give away Lelouch's identity towards Ze Dien.
"I see, any luck then because the sooner we get rid of this guy, the better." Rai wondered but Orpheus shook his head.
"We tried checking with every contact that was stationed in Area 11 but sadly, they didn't produce the results that were needed." Orpheus explained before looking at his watch. "Sadly, Mao is now Eternal's problem. We have a meeting to get to."
Rai nodded before Orpheus and Ze Dien closed the laptop. Orpheus looked at Ze Dien.
"Get to Ganabati and tell him that we'll be moving out soon." Orpheus instructed.
Ze Dien nodded before taking the laptop with him and leaving with only the two Riders left in the premises.
"Will we be taking our Knightmares?" Rai asked.
"I already handled that. They're loaded in the truck and they'll be used for our getaway escape if things don't work out." Orpheus said as he led Rai to the truck.
"What will Ze Dien and Ganabati do?"
"They'll keep watch on the truck and guard our machines." Orpheus explained. "Well, shall we get going soon?"
Rai nodded.
(With Lelouch)
Lelouch was outside the academy and was talking to the Black Knights via phone. He was in the middle of checking out if any of them saw Mao.
"Right, I'm sorry, Eternal. We haven't found this Mao guy yet." Inoue reported, much to Lelouch's disappointment.
"I see." Lelouch responded. Mao was good at hiding and it was driving Lelouch insane. Not even the Memory Gadgets were able to catch him around the Academy but Lelouch didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse. On one side, Mao hasn't attack Nunnally yet but on the other, Mao still has the element of the surprise and it was keeping Lelouch in suspense.
"Should we check our contacts in the Kyoto network?"
"No, just stay with the Kanto block. If you come up with any leads, let me know." Lelouch instructed. He didn't want anyone else involved since this was now becoming a personal issue.
"Right, will do."
"Alright, I'll get back to you." Lelouch hung up before walking back to his home and started thinking on the situation. 'If I get within 500 meters of Mao, he can read my mind. That's what he wants but knowing that, I should be able to guess his next move. I could put him in check if I had just one-.'
"Missing piece?"
Lelouch looked up and saw CC waiting for him.
"You and I are thinking exactly the same thing." CC said, as if she was mimicking Mao's Geass ability.
"So it seems…" Lelouch remarked as he walked up to her. Great minds think alike.
"Then we should work together on this, don't you agree?" CC asked. Lelouch hated to admit it but she has a point. They couldn't do anything about Mao separately and got zero results regarding their search. But maybe together, they'll get Mao as contractor and contractee.
RING!
Soon Lelouch and CC heard Lelouch's STAG phone ringing and there was no caller ID on it. The only logical conclusion was to assume that this is Mao. Lelouch answered it.
"Yes?"
"It's me, Lulu." Mao replied but neither did Lelouch or CC seem surprised. They knew something like this would happen sooner or later. "CC's there, too, isn't she? I wanna talk to alone. Put her on."
(With Rai and Orpheus)
The two left the truck while Rai had his hood on. The two Riders had their LostDrivers on just in case things went wrong and a couple of silenced pistols as well. Rai got his STAG Phone out and transformed it before sending it out. They waited as the mechanical insect patrolled the area before flying back to Rai.
"Okay, reviewing footage." Rai said as he examined the footage of what was going inside the industrial facility. He saw a few more guards than yesterday. They also looked well dug in with a few barriers outside along with the Sutherlands. The last piece of footage that Rai saw was a hooded man entering the building with Britannian troops escorting him.
Orpheus got a good look as well.
"Must be Oiaguro." Orpheus concluded since this was a meeting between Pluton and an unknown party. "Let's go."
Orpheus and Rai snuck in through the side windows and closed it before the soldiers passed by. Now inside, the two took a look at the footage and see their mysterious man going up.
"He must've gone to a board room up the building then."
"But where could that be?" Rai asked, making Orpheus think.
He soon had an idea.
"Follow me." Orpheus said and Rai nodded as the two snuck out of the room and quietly went down the hall with their pistols out.
The two hid in a closet when they saw a patrol passing by. When they were gone, the two got on the elevator nearby went on the top floor. Orpheus got on the comms.
"Ze Dien, can you try to locate the board meeting room for me?"
"I can try but it can take a little while."
"Use the Black Knights' network. I'm sending you the access codes now." Orpheus got on his STAG Phone and sent the codes that were given to him by Lelouch to Ze Dien. "Sent."
"Okay, accessing network." Ze Dien said as the elevator stopped and the two got their weapons out before the door opened, revealing no one. They appeared to be an office room and the two hid behind the nearby office cubicle. "Okay, the floor would be the highest floor. That would be the second floor, considering the size of the building."
"Got it, we're moving out." Orpheus said as he and Rai got out of cover before moving through the floor. They soon noticed big doors nearby with the sign, "Meeting Room" which is protected by a couple of Britannian soldiers.
"Any ideas?" Rai asked. They just can't go in there and shoot them because if they killed the soldiers, then there corpses falling and hitting the floor would alert everyone in the room.
"I got a couple." Orpheus answered as he gestured Rai to go to the right. Rai nodded and to where Orpheus pointed while Orpheus himself went to the left. Orpheus immediately grabbed a guard and shot him in the head before quickly shooting the other one in the head as well. Rai caught the body while Orpheus caught the other one.
They soon went up to the door.
"Ready?" Orpheus asked, ready to get answers from his uncle.
Rai was about to nod but they soon heard a noise before the doors were kicked open. They see a being with an unhuman-like appearance. He was colored blue with two length of cloth hanging from his back. His pants were baggy down to the knees while the rest were in boots. He had a black visor over his eyes. Around his waist was a metal belt with an orange bulb stuck in the middle. This was the Nazca Dopant.
"What the hell-!?"
The Nazca Dopant kicked Orpheus away before dodging bullets from Rai's gun. The Dopant charged at Rai before grabbing him and lifting him by the neck.
"You? I thought you were dead." The Nazca Dopant said, surprising Rai by recognizing him.
"W-We met?"
"I suppose it makes no difference now." The Nazca Dopant said before tossing Rai away and getting out a sword. "You're going to be dead by the time the night is over."
By the time that Orpheus got up, he sees a bunch of Britannian troops escorting a hooded Oiaguro. Orpheus was about to go after him but noticed the Nazca Dopant practically beating the living crap out of Rai, not giving him a chance to transform.
"Shit…" Orpheus cursed since he could only do one thing; either go after his uncle and leave his friend in deep trouble or save his friend but his uncle gets away. Orpheus looked at the Skull Memory and made his decision.
"SKULL!"
"Henshin!"
"SKULL!"
Orpheus turned into Skull before picking up his fallen fedora and placing it back on. Skull then took out his gun and fired…at the Nazca Dopant. The Nazca Dopant looked at Skull with somewhat intrigue.
"A Rider and a Memory User, I see…" Nazca Dopant remarked before charging at trying to slash Skull and deflect his bullets.
Rai got up and saw the fight before getting up and pulling out his Memory.
"JOKER!"
"Henshin!"
"JOKER!"
Rai charged as he turned into Joker and started fighting but Nazca Dopant dodged both attacks, surprising the two Riders. What's also surprising was that this is a Dopant and wasn't rampaging like the others.
"Oh I get it. You two are not only Memory Users but are Eternal's lackeys as well."
"We're not lackeys!" Joker barked before taking a step forward. "And how the hell do you know me!?"
Before the Nazca Dopant can say anything, he sees a flare off in the sky.
"Sorry but I'm afraid that I have to cut this short." The Nazca Dopant soon sent an energy slash that pushed the Riders away before he jumped out a window.
"No!" Joker said as he and Skull got up to see the Nazca Dopant running but soon Sutherlands tried to cover him as well as some ground troopers.
Joker and Skull got into cover before getting on their STAG Phones.
"Okay, these bastards want a war? They just got one!" Skull said as he pressed Enter on his phone, just like Joker did. Soon the box carrier of the truck opened, revealing both the Gekka and the Byakuen.
Skull and Joker continued typing on their phones before the machines moved out of the truck and accelerated to their pilots' location. Soon at the command of a button, the two Knightmares started shooting down the ground troops, catching them by surprise. The Gekka and Byakuen soon positioned themselves to be underneath Joker and Skull.
Soon the cockpits opened and the two jumped into their respective machine before the cockpit closed. With the presence of their Gaia Memories, the two machines transformed into their powered up Rider forms. It was only a small matter of time before they shot down the Sutherlands and vehicles before noticing the Nazca Dopant trying to get away on a chopper.
Skull got out of his Knightmare before sticking a device into his gun. He fired and it stuck on the Nazca Dopant's belt without him noticing. The chopper was soon out of view and Joker got out of his Knightmare before approaching Skull and reverting back to Rai.
Rai was a little hesitant to talk to Skull since they both just lost Orpheus's chance at vengeance.
"You okay?"
Skull nodded before taking his hat off and reverting back to Orpheus.
"I have waited so long to get my revenge…I can wait little more." Orpheus said as he sat down on the chair of his cockpit. He soon looked at Rai who seemed a little upset that he couldn't get any answers out of the Nazca Dopant. "Don't worry, I fired a tracker on our little blue friend. We'll be able to know where he's going soon. But what I don't get is that how is able to control himself in his Dopant form."
"We should tell Lelouch." Rai suggested.
"Definitely." Orpheus responded before he and Rai got in their Knightmares and moved out.
(With Lelouch and CC)
CC soon hung up and started walking out, confusing Lelouch. CC looked back to clarify on the recent events.
"You should be happy about this, Lelouch. We're finally going our separate ways. I made up with Mao." CC explained, surprising Lelouch that she is actually going through this.
"You're betraying me?"
"Are you actually saying that? When were you my friend? Never." CC said in a cold voice before walking away.
"Wait."
CC stopped and looked at Lelouch.
"Wow, here's a surprise. You sound just like Mao." CC remarked while Lelouch adopted a serious look.
"CC, you know way too much about me now. I can't let you walk away like this especially with the Cyclone Memory and Lost Driver that I gave." Lelouch stated, clearly not letting go of CC that easily. They've already been through a lot but CC already knows a lot and that kind of person outside of his organization is too risky to let loose.
"And what are you going to do about it? Nothing, because Geass won't work on me and you can't fight me as Eternal because the fight would alert the entire school, you would be place under investigation." CC pointed out, making Lelouch cringe. She certainly has thought of everything in such a short amount of time. CC began walking away.
"But-!"
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about you. You can keep your Geass, too. And, Mao won't bother you anymore. He'll never cross your path again." CC was then at the door. "I'll return the Memoryand Driver when I see fit. So all your obstacles are gone. Congratulations and farewell."
CC exited the building and closed the door, leaving an extremely frustrated Lelouch.
(At the Kururugi grave)
Tohdoh and two of the Four Holy Swords, Chiba and Asahina were standing in front of the grave of their deceased comrade, Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi who was also Suzaku's father. Tohdoh was staring at the grave.
"Urabe and the others are late." Chiba said as she looked around.
"Well this sure is an ironic meeting place, isn't it? The grave of Prime Minister Kururugi?" Asahina remembered as he read the tombstone.
"The traitor who told us to fight to then end, then committed suicide himself." Chiba said, disgusted. Official reports indicated that during the war, Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi committed suicide as an olive branch to Britannia as a way of stopping the war. A lot of his allies had obviously disliked that action. They would rather die than submit to Britannia.
"Enough!" Tohdoh said, frustrated enough as it is with General Katase's death along with the JLF dissolved. "General Katase also committed suicide and he was a true patriot!"
Unknown to them, a Britannian task force was watching them before one of them zoomed in on Tohdoh.
"Fugitive Tohdoh identified. All units, prepare to move in." The Britannian commanding officer said.
"Yes, my lord."
(With Lelouch)
Lelouch was in his underground hideout and was still upset over CC's sudden betrayal. He was currently trying to get his mind off it but upgrading the Club and talking to Diethard over the phone about some business regarding the Black Knights.
"Yes, I've read through your proposal for reorganizing the Black Knights. I've got a few changes in mind, but overall I like the way you're going with this. I'll run it by Ohgi and the other Riders tomorrow."
"Thanks, I appreciate it." Diethard responded, being as cool as cucumber.
"Next draft, I'd like you to insert a chart that forecasts how the cell-based structure will be implemented. That's all." Lelouch said before hanging up. He started thinking on Diethard and what progress he made for the Black Knights so far. 'Diethard, though he's Britannian, he's proving even more useful that I'd hoped. Still he could be a spy. I can't rule that out yet.'
Lelouch then looked at his phone and noticed something.
'Right, she recorded it then.'
Lelouch then saw that CC didn't betray her for selfish reasons but rather for the opposite. Lelouch instantly listened to it and see what kind of clue that CC left behind.
(With CC)
CC was alone in some sort of an abandoned amusement park, looking for Mao. The lights soon turned on, music started playing, and the attractions came to life, it was definitely Mao's doing. CC looked around and noticed Mao riding on a horse in the carousel
"CC, your mind is so quiet. It's the only one I can't read. You really are the best there is!" Mao remarked with a bright smile, while CC kept her natural neutral look on.
"As childish as ever, I see." CC remarked.
"I'm a prince on a white stallion, and a prince has to rescue the princess." MAro laughed as he got off. "Does that make you happy, CC?"
"Maro, we talk about this before. I told you that you and I-."
"Those were all lies. Lies." Mao denied as he walked up to CC. "CC, you love me and this is how I know." Mao took off his headset and CC heard the sound of her own voice.
"Thank you, Mao. Mao, Mao-."
"Stop it!" CC said as remembered why she and Mao were close before.
(Eleven years ago)
"Be quiet!" A young Mao said as he heard every mind nearby.
CC was holding him and had a delicate face.
"Don't listen to them. Listen to the sound of my voice." CC said with a caring voice. A caring voice that only a mother would have.
Mao listened and looked at her.
"That's it." CC smiled.
…
CC and Mao were in the forest before Mao painted a picture of CC, making her proud.
"Since my mind is the only one you can't read, and you can be only happy when with me. I'll stay with you always. Yes, I'm right here. So you don't need to worry." CC's voice said as day turned to night with CC holding the child Mao as they slept.
(Present)
"CC, you're the only one! The only one I want forever. Lelouch doesn't matter at all. If you just come with me-." Mao tried putting a hand on CC but she smacked it away.
"Stop it!" CC said as she placed her LostDriver on. She took out her Memory.
"CYCLONE!"
"I should've done this a long long time ago…Henshin!" CC placed the Memory in the slot before tilting it.
"CYCLONE!"
CC transformed into Cyclone and looked ready to kill Mao.
"That armor is created by lies, CC! Twisted and wicked lies!" Mao said as he got out the Violence Memory.
"VIOLENCE!"
He plugged it into himself before turning into the Violence Dopant. Cyclone only clenched her fists before charging at her former contractee.
(With Lelouch)
Lelouch was walking to Tokyo Tower with a duffle bag and as he was walking, he thought about the message that CC left him.
(A while ago)
Lelouch played the message that was left on his phone.
"It's me, CC." Mao answered and Lelouch paid attention to every detail.
"Mao." CC responded.
"I'll be at Clovisland. Come alone." Mao instructed.
"You're selfish as ever, I see."
"If you don't come alone, I'll just have to tell the police who Lelouch really is. I can have him eliminated anytime I want." Mao threatened, limiting CC's options.
(Present)
Lelouch was finally in Tokyo Tower and started plugging in equipment. Meanwhile, he was thinking about CC and her plan. It was reckless and purely unpredictable. Heck, he would even call it lucky for him to even find the message in time.
'She comes and goes like the wind. I can't read her. I can't fathom how such a twisted girl thinks.' Lelouch thought. She's smart, unpredictable, manipulative, and most of all, wicked by every definition of the term. But CC is his partner and they have to look out for each other. "Idiot…" Lelouch commented. He had to get that out in the open.
(With Cyclone)
Cyclone was trying to land punches and kicks but it looks like the Violence Dopant's armor was too dense, even for her to pierce.
"You're quite quick, CC." The Violence Dopant said before grabbing her arm and tossing her into a food cart, ruining it.
Cyclone got up to see the Violence Dopant about to smash her. Cyclone rolled out of the way just in time before getting up and doing a sweep kick but it failed. She soon flipped back and looked at the Dopant.
"Oh don't be like that." The Violence Dopant said before turning into a boulder and trying to run over Cyclone. Cyclone barely managed to roll out of the way in time before the Violence Dopant transformed back and extend its crushing arm, knocking Cyclone onto the stage.
The Violence Dopant soon got on and approached Cyclone who was getting up.
"What's wrong, CC? I know you're definitely a much better fighter. Oh I wait, I know why you're holding back." The Violence Dopant laughed. "It's because you love me."
"I don't! Mao I was just using you from the start." Cyclone said as she charged but the Violence Dopant grabbed her by the neck. She tried getting free but the Dopant had the better strength, enhanced or not.
"What are you saying? You shouldn't tell lies like that. You really shouldn't." The Violence Dopant denied as he started punching her in the gut multiple times. He even punched Cyclone in the gut so hard that she pukes a little bit of blood in her helmet. "Lies are very very wicked. Wicked lies!"
The Violence Dopant held Cyclone up by both hands before bending his knees. He then brought Cyclone down on them, breaking her spine and paralyzing her legs. Cyclone lied on the ground before the Violence Dopant reverted back to Mao. He pried the Cyclone's belt and tore it off, reverting Cyclone back into CC.
"You won't need this anymore." Mao took out the Cyclone Memory and threw onto the ground next to CC; Mao then placed CC's Driver in his pocket before looking at CC, who was too injured to even sit up. Despite her healing factor, it'll take time before her spine was healed fully. CC just stared at Mao while struggling to sit up. "Don't worry…I understand. CC, you must listen to me. I've build a big bran new house in Australia, a very quiet, white, immaculate special house."
Mao then walked over to the corner to get something.
"But to get to Australia, you'll need to take an airplane and there isn't very much room. The thing is, CC, you're a little too big to bring on a plane. So that's why…" Mao pulled out a chainsaw and revved it. He had a smile that just shouted "crazy" all over the place. "I'm just going to make you compact. It'll take little time at all!" Mao smiled as he sliced off a sign in a matter of seconds.
CC started to sweat a little under Mao's crazy intention, keeping her imprisoned while he can have her all to himself.
"Is this your revenge? You're punishing me?"
"Oh no, I'm not. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not at all." Mao soon started to approach her. "I'm just showing my gratitude."
Just before Mao can do anything else, the monitor started showing a very familiar face while his voice was spoken through the speakers.
"So this is the place that you picked. A place where there'd be no one else's thoughts to bother you. That narrowed it way down." Lelouch remarked.
"Lelouch." Mao recognized.
"Since your Geass had the total maximum range of 500 meters. It can't reach here at Tokyo Tower."
"That's true. That's very true." Mao said, keeping his bright smile on because he knows that he won already. "But what can you do from so far away, hmm? After taking all that trouble to hack into the system, what's your grand plan? A remote-control with some of your gadget toys, or a tongue-lashing to lecture me into submission?"
"…" No response.
"Ah, cat got your tongue now? If you want CC, then you're gonna have to come-."
"Mao, think! You don't believe that CC is her real name, do you? She never even whispers it to anyone." Lelouch brought up, surprising Mao.
"Huh?" Mao looked surprised and wondered why Lelouch would bring up such a thing. His eyes then widened when he looked at CC, realizing what Lelouch was saying.
"But I know it, though. She told me her true name." Lelouch said, even if it was by accident, he still knows her real name. Something that she wouldn't trust anybody with.
Mao looked at CC with a surprised and shocked expression.
"Is that right, CC? You never told me, ever ever. But you told it to him?" Mao said, feeling somewhat betrayed.
"You know why?" Lelouch asked, catching Mao's attention. "Because CC is mine. CC belongs to me in every possible way."
"No, she doesn't! She doesn't! She doesn't! She doesn't!" Mao denied as he shook his head before looking at Lelouch in defiance. "She was mine long before she met you!"
"I have gained every single thing from her, including all of the parts that you have never seem, all of them…" Lelouch mocked, pushing Mao to the edge.
"Lelouch…face me!" Mao charged at the screen and started slicing it with his chainsaw. "Lelouch, come here! Come here! Let me look into your mind! I'll see the truth! I'll see what a liar you are! Liar!"
"Mao, you've lost…" Lelouch said as the screen was destroyed entirely.
"What are you talking about!? I don't care! I'm gonna be with CC!" Mao said before his Geass picked up multiple voices. Mao looked around. "Is that Lelouch? But he's too far away." Mao thought out loud but it wasn't one person's thoughts that he picked up but multiple. "Sounds…everywhere…all those voices."
Soon multiple SWAT members and a Police Knightmare appeared with their guns pointed at Mao. Mao looked surprised as a police chopper also appeared and shined its light on Mao.
"Hold it right there. Drop the weapon and surrender!" The police chopper announced through the speakers.
"W-What are they doing here!?" Mao said, looking around. He can't even get the Violence Memory out to transform and kill them first.
"Remain where you are! Drop your weapon and raise your hands!" The police chopper instructed.
"It's the police! But who contacted them!?" Mao wondered before looking at a certain officer pick up the Cyclone Memory and carrying CC bridal style. CC and Mao looked to recognize that it was Lelouch.
"Lelouch, what are you doing here?" CC asked but Lelouch only smiled at his victory over Mao.
"It can't be. He was just at Tokyo Tower. He can't be here now!" Mao exclaimed before Lelouch looked at him with his smug smile.
'Are you that slow? That was all a recording.' Lelouch thought, mentally speaking to Mao.
"That's a lie! You….you were talking to me, answering me!" Mao said, recalling how this 'recording' was so lifelike and answered everything at the proper timing.
'Your thoughts are simple. Since you read minds, you've never resorted to cunning.'
"You predicted every one of my answers?" Mao then had a furious look. "Don't play games with me, punk! If the cops arrest me, I'll be back out in a heartbeat!" Mao declared before hearing the thoughts of the cops, wondering what he's saying. They were too much for Mao and he clnched his head. "Shut up! Just stop talking to me!"
'CC told me you can't turn off your Geass and you reach is erratic. If you don't concentrate, your range gets very short.'
In other words, since Mao was too busy focusing on the recording, his Geass couldn't detect the police officers that Lelouch contacted. It was only until the last minute that Mao's Geass detected them.
" So you used the monitor to keep me distracted? Even so, I can still defeat you. I'll have you ruined, killed even!"
'The moment you try is the moment you die.' Lelouch warned as he started to walk away with CC. CC, however, looked at him with a pleading look.
"Lelouch, wait. If I talk to him, I can get through."
Mao then smiled.
"You think I'll die?" Mao looked at the cops. "Listen, cops. You know who that guy is!? He's the terrorist you want! He's-!"
Soon a certain Geassed Police Lieutenant followed Lelouch's order; fire at Mao when he's about to give Lelouch's identity.
"Fire!" He ordered, making the cops shooting down Mao.
"Oh no!" CC remarked as Lelouch made her look away.
"Eternal…" Mao whispered but not loud enough for anyone to hear him. He then dropped his head, appearing to be dead.
(Later at a nearby building)
The police chopper dropped off Lelouch and CC on the roof of a building in the ghetto area.
"This is Echo-3. I've released the hostage into the ghetto as ordered."
"What? Your orders were to take her into the hospital."
The police chopper flew away and Lelouch caught CC, looking into the city. He wasn't concerned about the Driver or the Violence Memory, he could pick those up from Mao's body in the morgue. Right now, what concerned him was CC.
"Mao was only six years old when I made my contract with him." CC started. "He was an orphan who'd never known the love of a parent. He couldn't read or write and knew nothing of good and evil."
Lelouch didn't say anything but listened intently.
"When I gave the Geass power to Mao, it isolated him. In his mind, I became his only friend and his love, though I was still a perfect stranger. I'm the only one he even thought of as human. I was Mao's entire world." CC sadly said.
"CC, listen to me. I won't let Geass destroy me. I will conquer its power and bend it to my will, and use it to change the world. I'll fulfill your desire and my own. Then I will complete the contract that he couldn't achieve. So please-."
"Lelouch, tell me…" CC turned her head, revealing a worried look. "Are you trying to comfort me? Pity me? Or is this part of your obsession?" CC asked, wondering if she turned Lelouch into another Mao.
Lelouch stared at her.
"It's a contract. This time, it's from me to you." Lelouch said. They'll be partners and will look out for each other. Nothing more, nothing less.
It was enough for CC to turn to face Lelouch with a warm smile.
"Very well, then. I accept your contract." CC said as she stuck her arm out.
Lelouch did the same and the two shook on it.
(Next time on Code Eternal)
Lelouch was facing a bandaged Mao, who was wearing CC's Driver; the same one that he took from her at Clovisland. He took out his Memory.
"VIOLENCE!"
"Henshin!"
"VIOLENCE!"
Mao was soon covered in a black bulky bodysuit with gray armor and red wires around him. His helmet also His helmet was big and bulky as well with two compound orange eyes and a steel mouthpiece.
"I feel incredible!" The transformed Mao remarked as he felt the surge of power coursing through his body. He looked at Lelouch. "I know this belt was an invention of your evil but what about some ironic poetic justice for you? I'll show you the power of Kamen Rider Violence!"
Stage 13: Rider vs. Rider.
AN: There's my latest Eternal chapter. I know it's been like over a year since I made a chapter but I feel like this should get out there. I also want to make an announcement. Due to the amount of stories that I have, I might be putting some on hiatus in order to advance the progress of others. I haven't decided which stories to put on hiatus or which stories to continue updating yet. You guys are free to suggest though. For the stories on hiatus, I'll update them when I'm done with at least one season of the stories that I plan to continually to update.
Anyways, you guys know the drill. Be sure to review or message me with questions or comments regarding the story. And don't be afraid to check out my other stories as well. Alright, I'm done, goodnight
